Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are indicated for the treatment of pain, fever and inflammation. In Finland, their use has increased continually from 50.4 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 1994 to 74.6 in 2004.

Novel COX-2 selective NSAIDs or coxibs were rapidly adopted after their introduction in 2000. In this study, the risk of serious upper gastrointestinal adverse events and myocardial infarction associated with the use of NSAIDs was analysed using data from the nationwide Hospital Discharge Register and the Prescription Register.

In the Finnish general population, the increased risk of serious upper gastrointestinal events was associated not only with the use of conventional NSAIDs, but also with coxibs. The anticipated risk of myocardial infarction associated with the use of coxibs was confirmed. A similar risk was found to be associated with conventional NSAIDs.